Maruijuana - a new risk reported.

[Q.]

There is only one study I have found suggesting MJ use increases the risk of getting a psychiatric disorder above the genetic risk and thus can be accused of acting as a causative rather than an unmasking agent. That was a study of kids under 17 using MJ daily, that revealed a risk of getting Schizophrenia increased substantially above the genetic lottery. Speculatively this is assumed to be something to do with its effect on the immature brain.

Good point Psyber. This is the area future studies should focus on. While I believe that cannabis largely unnaffects most (non-predisposed) adult brains, it is the immature brain (IMO) that it can do most damage to.

And what do kids know about moderation

[Psyber]

[ Even the scientific method in modern reports is questionable.

Got some specifics there? I read the one from the Uni of Qld about the increase in the incidence of Schizophrenia in regular users under 17 in full and the methodology looked pretty sound.

However, the selective breeding has led to the market being dominated by quick finishing indicas (too make fast cash) that have very high levels of THC, giving that extremely munted feeling. Other strains such as sativa or haze have a higher ratio of cannibidols (which are 'better' for you) to THC and are more stimulating, but traditionally don't grow as prolifically.

It's not even high THC levels that would put me off, but rather the chemicals (nitrates and hormones) that are awash in most cannabis. What effect are these having on the brain? How could they be linked to incidences of mental illness? As yet, I believe it's largely undocumented.

So, if I were to be a smoker, give me some outdoor sativa anyday.

A contact I had in the "industry" in Victoria told me his group were injecting Ketamine among other things into the stalks to enhance the appeal of the product.
Some Angels I knew in SA offered me some free pointing out "It's not the shit we sell." which supports your point here.

When I had a farm I was interested in growing the low toxicity varieties for the hemp fabric and hemp rope market, but that is prevented by the difficulty for the Police in identifying which plant is which.

[Q.]

Even the scientific method in modern reports is questionable.

Got some specifics there? I read the one from the Uni of Qld about the increase in the incidence of Schizophrenia in regular users under 17 in full and the methodology looked pretty sound.

Sorry, I meant 'some modern reports', I didn't mean to call into question that specific article. I've just read some over the years that have been rubbish.

[Q.]

A contact I had in the "industry" in Victoria told me his group were injecting Ketamine among other things into the stalks to enhance the appeal of the product.

Either he's bullsh*tting you or they aren't too intelligent and wasted a heap of ketamine. There's no way that ketamine would find itself into the end product, besides the fact that ketamine is ineffective when smoked.

[Psyber]

There is only one study I have found suggesting MJ use increases the risk of getting a psychiatric disorder above the genetic risk and thus can be accused of acting as a causative rather than an unmasking agent. That was a study of kids under 17 using MJ daily, that revealed a risk of getting Schizophrenia increased substantially above the genetic lottery. Speculatively this is assumed to be something to do with its effect on the immature brain.

Good point Psyber. This is the area future studies should focus on. While I believe that cannabis largely unnaffects most (non-predisposed) adult brains, it is the immature brain (IMO) that it can do most damage to.

And what do kids know about moderation

Yes, apart from the slight vagueness and passivity that attracts the term "head" my experience has been that most adult moderate users are not affected much. The problem is that the prediposed groups are among the most prolific users and their psychotic states can be exacerbated and make them potentially dangerous.

A guy I did a court report on a few years ago and who was fairly well then went interstate, stopped his antipsychotics and hit the booze and MJ fairly hard, and allegedly beat to death someone who looked at him "funny". I have been interviewed by the CIB, and may be called to give evidence if he is ever deemed fit for trial by the hospital he is in.

[Psyber]

A contact I had in the "industry" in Victoria told me his group were injecting Ketamine among other things into the stalks to enhance the appeal of the product.

Either he's bullsh*tting you or they aren't too intelligent and wasted a heap of ketamine. There's no way that ketamine would find itself into the end product, besides the fact that ketamine is ineffective when smoked.

I believe you there. It is not an area I have looked into. He didn't impress me as what you would call bright!
I don't know what the other things were as I didn't ask. It wasn't relevant to the report I was writing at the time.

[Q.]

Yes, apart from the slight vagueness and passivity that attracts the term "head" my experience has been that most adult moderate users are not affected much. The problem is that the prediposed groups are among the most prolific users and their psychotic states can be exacerbated and make them potentially dangerous.

I wouldn't say predisposed groups are any more prolific than those not, however, I believe that those who've experienced depressive states as an adolescent are more likely to use than those who haven't.

A guy I did a court report on a few years ago and who was fairly well then went interstate, stopped his antipsychotics and hit the booze and MJ fairly hard, and allegedly beat to death someone who looked at him "funny". I have been interviewed by the CIB, and may be called to give evidence if he is ever deemed fit for trial by the hospital he is in.

It could be said that he may well have commited such violence simply by coming off the meds, we'll never know though.

[Q.]

A contact I had in the "industry" in Victoria told me his group were injecting Ketamine among other things into the stalks to enhance the appeal of the product.

Either he's bullsh*tting you or they aren't too intelligent and wasted a heap of ketamine. There's no way that ketamine would find itself into the end product, besides the fact that ketamine is ineffective when smoked.

I believe you there. It is not an area I have looked into. He didn't impress me as what you would call bright!
I don't know what the other things were as I didn't ask. It wasn't relevant to the report I was writing at the time.

Could be any number of things being injected, but the only things useful would be those that increase growth and flowering - and none of them would be any good for you. I say no thanks to a lungful of vapourised ammonium nitrate

[Q.]

Ummm, I studied science and work in science (plant breeder actually) BTW. SAFooty doesn't have a drug baron in it's midst

[Psyber]

Yes, apart from the slight vagueness and passivity that attracts the term "head" my experience has been that most adult moderate users are not affected much. The problem is that the prediposed groups are among the most prolific users and their psychotic states can be exacerbated and make them potentially dangerous.

I wouldn't say predisposed groups are any more prolific than those not, however, I believe that those who've experienced depressive states as an adolescent are more likely to use than those who haven't.

The use seems to be very high in those with mood disorder, whether it be depression, Bipolar Disorder, or Schizophrenia, based on my sample as an obseving medico, but I concede I haven't kept figures for statistical analysis, and we don't know which came first in most cases - drug use or overt illness. I admit my sample could be biased, because I don't know anyone socially these days who uses any drug other than good quality alcoholic beverages. My casual and fringe acquaintance with some Hells Angels was back in my SA days pre-1996.

A guy I did a court report on a few years ago and who was fairly well then went interstate, stopped his antipsychotics and hit the booze and MJ fairly hard, and allegedly beat to death someone who looked at him "funny". I have been interviewed by the CIB, and may be called to give evidence if he is ever deemed fit for trial by the hospital he is in.

It could be said that he may well have commited such violence simply by coming off the meds, we'll never know though.

That is so, although in that one case the history I obtained suggested a pattern of becoming more overtly paranoid each time he went back on the MJ, compared to the intervals in between. It appeared he didn't use it regularly except when encouraged by his brother when he visited him interstate.

[Psyber]

Ummm, I studied science and work in science (plant breeder actually) BTW. SAFooty doesn't have a drug baron in it's midst

I note your disclaimer and I quote mine from above.
"I don't know anyone socially these days who uses any drug other than good quality alcoholic beverages. My casual and fringe acquaintance with some Hells Angels was back in my SA days pre-1996."
[Even though I did play in the streets of Bowden with Domenic Marafiote when we were both children.]

[Dog_ger]

My experiments with this product in my youth were positive....

Unfortunately the older you get the wiser you become.

Having a heart attack at 49, makes you re-assess everything.

Polution past the lips is limited to Red Wine....

[Strawb]

i tried smoking pot and all i got was a black eye from the handle.

[Pseudo]

Dave's not here man...

[Psyber]

The Age: "Dope smokers not so mellow."
http://www.theage.com.au/news/health/do ... 41179.html

[Lunchcutter]

anyone know where I can get some good stuff

[Psyber]

anyone know where I can get some good stuff

When I lived in Hahndorf I knew some of the Angels in SA casually. They used to offer me the "good stuff".
When I said "No thanks!" to one of them, he looked puzzled and said, "It's free, and it's not the sh1t we sell!", but just shrugged when I said I didn't use it at all.
So, I guess one of the pubs in Hahndorf, other than the German Arms, may be the place.

[Rik E Boy]

Today I am of the opinion that all drugs should be legal, so that the quality can be controlled and most importantly they can be taxed. It would also remove the stigma attached to drug users and would put many criminals out of business.

That will never, ever work.

If the Government legalised drugs and imposed a tax on them what do you think criminals will turn around and do? Make their own drugs cheaper than the legally available ones, by diminishing the quality!!

Like the way they do with Tobacco. Mate these Tobacco growers are everywhere man. And then there's Curley up in the Hills with his Moonshine. Surey bob.

regards,

REB

[Q.]

Today I am of the opinion that all drugs should be legal, so that the quality can be controlled and most importantly they can be taxed. It would also remove the stigma attached to drug users and would put many criminals out of business.

That will never, ever work.

If the Government legalised drugs and imposed a tax on them what do you think criminals will turn around and do? Make their own drugs cheaper than the legally available ones, by diminishing the quality!!
Look at it this way - if you were a heavily addicted crack user, whose drugs would you buy when you need a fix? The legal, high quality and expensive cocaine, or the cheap crack from your local dealer?
If you were a teenager popping E's at a night club, would you pay $100 for a "legal" pill or $20 for a disco biccie from the Asian bloke standing at the back of the room?

Legalising drugs would just indefinitely compound the many issues that are caused by drugs in the first place. The "stigma" attached to these types of drugs is 100% warranted, it becomes fact.

If a government was progressive enough to legalise drugs, they wouldn't be so ignorant as to inflate the price beyond reasonable means via tax. The tax only needs to be a few dollars per individual dose for the government to reap a huge tax bonus, while concurrently eliminating the criminal element.

Legalisation removes the criminal element and allows enforcement of the same strict rules applied to pharmaceuticals. The criminal element is not only contact with dodgy sectors of society, but is unknown purity and inflated prices. The other facet to legalisation is harm reduction. Social experiments in Europe have shown that legalisation does not increase drug use. The potential for harm is greatly reduced because there is no contact with organised crime, no risk of harmful adulterants, there is known dosage and there is sufficient education on safe use.

Laws of economics imply the opposite to what you suggest. If a criminal element were to outcompete the government they would have to make drugs of better quality, not worse.

And stigma blanketed generally over drugs exists because of illegality, and probably only becomes fact in a minority of cases often due to harm caused as a result of the illegal nature.